Colorado Mother Warns Parents About Front-Loading Washing Machine Risk

CONIFER, CO. – A Colorado mother has shared a terrifying story in hopes she could prevent a very scary situation or even save the life of their child.

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Lindsey McIver, a mother of three said on her Facebook post that she hesitated to write about an incident that happened to her family. She said part of the hesitation was because she knew that “mom-shaming” may come with the responses, and also because the experience was traumatic for her family.

She said that her washing machine broke, so the following day they went to purchase a new one. The selected a front loading washing machine. When they got it to their home, they installed it with the children intently watching. Her and her husband told the children several times not to touch the machine and they all said, “ok”. Early the following morning they woke up to their 4-year-old son hysterically crying. He could barely talk and as they tried to understand him, her husband suddenly jumped up and ran down the stairs. “It was then that the realization hit,” McIver posted. “He had said, “Kloe. inside washer”.”

She then ran down the stairs into the basement where the washer was installed, Kloe was locked inside the washing machine. The machine was tumbling and filling with water. McIver said she could see that she was screaming but could not hear her. “We were able to quickly stop it and unlock the door and get her out,” she said. “Aside from a couple of small bumps on her head and wet clothes, she was fine.”

McIver said that she did not know that a washing machine could be so dangerous. “We are continually surprised at the new, inventive ways our kids come up with to try and die,” she said. “And this was definitely a new one.”

She posted a picture of the secured door with a child safety lock attached after the incident. She said that there is also a setting that, as long as it is set, it will keep the washing machine from starting but will not lock the door. “ We hadn’t even used the machine yet so we hadn’t looked at any of the settings,” she said. “Also, it obviously took two curious kids to pull this off. I want to encourage anybody who has this type of front loading washing machine and small children, or even grandkids who visit, to lock the door with a child safety lock and always keep the child lock setting on.” She said although in hindsight there were ways that she could have prevented this from happening, a lot of “accidents” happen to “human” parents. Since she has to forgive herself, she feels that everyone should be able to be open and honest about their mistakes to work together to keep their children safe.